Locomotive stoker



April 28, 1942.

c. J. SURDY LOGOMOTIVE STOKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 18, 1939 INVENTOR. CHARLES J. SURDK ATTORNEYS April 28, 1942. c. J. SURDY LOGOMOTIVE STOKER Filed Aug. 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES J. SURDY ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 28, 1942 LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Charles J. Surdy, Erie, Pa., assignor to The Standard Stoker, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application August 18, 1939, Serial No. 290,832

6 Claims. (Cl. 110-1055) This invention, which relates to locomotive stokers, has for its principal object the provision of a stoker which may be cheaply applied to existing forms of locomotive boilers without material change in the structure thereof.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a locomotive stoker which feeds fuel through the existing firing opening in the backwall of the locomotive boiler, the coal passing freely through such opening and dropping downwardly into the firebox along the backwall to form a pile or mound from which it is distributed over the grates by means of a pressure fiuid jet.

It is a further object of this invention to so position the distributor jet in stokers of the characters above described that a low firebed may be maintained upon the firebox grates.

It is also an object of this invention to arrange the pressure fluid jet for adjustment in a vertical and horizontal direction in order to controldistribution of coal over the firebed.

These and other objects together with their attendant advantages will become apparent as the followingdescription is read in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a central vertical section through the rearward part of the locomotive boiler showing the stoker of the present invention in similar section with parts thereof in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a section in plan taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 1 showing in greater detail the pressure fluid jet head as applied to the locomotive boiler; and

Fig. 4 is a view from Within the firebox of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to these drawings, the locomotive L comprises a boiler Ill having a firebox l l which is defined by the backwall l2, the front wall l3, and side walls l4 and 15. These walls are hollow for the purpose of circulating water as it is evaporated by the boiler l 0. The bottom of the firebox H is formed by the main grates l6 which are arranged for rocking movement through the intermediacy of the levers l1, and the dump grate 9 at the rearward portion of the firebox arranged for downward movement about the pin 8 by means of the link I. Extending centrally of the locomotive, with its upper surface in the plane of the grate I6 is a grate bearmg bar 6,the rearward end of which is enlarged, for the purpose to be hereinafter explained. One :dump grate 9 is disposed at each side of the enlarged rearward end 5 of the grate. bearing bar 6.

locomotive backwall I2.

Below the locomotive boiler I0 is a frame l8 upon which the boiler is supported by means including the flexible plates l9 and 20. An ash pan 2| extends downwardly below the grates I6 and receives the ash which falls through the openings in the grates l6 while the locomotive is in operation and also whenever the grates are rocked by the levers H. In order to promote combustion, the firebox H is provided with th usual arch 22 formed of refractory material which serves as a bafile for the flame and products of combustion intheir travel toward the flues 23. A cab 24 extends rearwardly from thebackwall l2 and is provided with a fioor 25 spaced above the frame l8 but below the level of the firing opening 26, the latter being formed in the backwall I2 at a suitable height above the level of the grates l6.

7 In applying stokers to locomotives of the type herein described, it is important to do so with a minimum alteration in the structure of the latter so that low installation costs may be maintained. Since the firing opening 26 is oftentimes just of suflicient size to permit mechanics to enter therethrough for making periodical inspections of the firebox and for making repairs thereto, the application of a stoker with its distributing mechanism passing through such opening is not usually feasible but requires an enlargement of this opening. In the present invention, the stoker S, while being adapted to feed fuel through opening 26, does not occupy a substantial portion of the firing opening 26 be cause the distributing mechanism is positioned independently as will hereinafter appear.

The stoker S includes a conveyor conduit 30 leading forwardly from the tender and universally connected at 3| to the lower end of an inclined conveyor conduit 32 which is rigidly secured by bolts to the bracket 33 carried upon the A conveyor screw 34 within the conduit 32 urges fuel therethrough and through the lower portion 35. of a casing 36 which embraces the firing opening 26 and is provided opposite such opening with an aperture 31 adapted to be closed by a power operated firedoor 38. A guard plate 33 extends forwardly from the lower portion of the casing 36 into the firing opening 26 and over which guard plate fuel is urged forwardly by the screw 34. In order that there may be no substantial obstruction of the firing opening 26, the guard plate 39 fits closely to the walls which define the firing opening.

At a substantial distance below the lower edge of the firing opening 26 and approximately in the plane of cab deck 25 the backwall [2 has inserted therethrough a tube or thimble Ml through which extends a pressure fluid jet head 50. The jet head 50 receives fluid under pressure from pipes 5| which lead from a suitable source of supply and discharges the pressure fluid forwardly and laterally through apertures .52 formed in itsarcuate front face 53.

The forward portion 55 with which the arcuate front face 53 of the jet head is formed is provided on its upper side with a gable formation 56 so related with thespill edge 51 of .the guard plate 39 that as fuel drops by gravity from the latter it will strike the gablel56and ro1ldownwardly without resting upon any part of the jet head. This will materially increase the life of this jet head 50 since no fuel will be'permitted to lodge and ignite thereupon. Rearwardly of its front portion 55 the jet head 58 is provided withfla shank 58 tcrminatingexteriorly of the firebox .backwall; H! in a spherical .ball .59 rarrangcdatobe receiyedginiacomplementary spherical seat, ,6 ll. .of .a supportbracket:6l secured by boltsv to, they jbackwall .12. The sphericalsball 159 is provided .onitstop. and bottomwith anarcuate groove .52 extending insa. vertical longitudinal plane passed through .the axis of the ball. Screws such .as 153 threaded intocthe spherical seatlfiil engage a respective .arcuate groove 62 forsecuringisaidjet. head 55 in any position of adjustment verticallyrandhorizontally to a degreetlimited-by the siZe-of-the thimble 4D.

.In the operation of this device, and with a thin level fire in the firebox l=l already-started by roundlhouse-forces the screw 34 of the Stoker delivers fuel through-the lower portion 35 or the casing 35 and across the guard plate-39, from the spill edge 51 of whichthe duel will drop downwardly somewhat after --the '-fashion of a waterfall. The falling fuel will strike the gable 56 of the jethead EO and within -a short-time-will build upa pile or mound of -fue1under the jet head to the level .of the pressure fluid discharge apertures 52. As the fuel continues to" fall onto the mound of-ifuel so-formed, it is swept off this mound in a-f orward-and lateral direction by the pressurefiuid' blasts-issuing from'the jet apertures 52 and deposited upon-the thin fire burning on the grates [6. In order to insure; the maintenance of a thin -firebed,-the j et head 55 is so positioned'that the vertical distance fromthe grates 16 to the jet apertures r521isrless than the vertica'ldistance from these-jet apertures'to the lower edge of the firing opening 25. Intime the levelof the fire will build up to aylevel' indicated bythe dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, which is a level at which the boiler .Hl may evaporate the maximum quantity of water hourly. Shouldit be found that the firebed is building up in front of the jet apertures 52 the grate sections: l6 may be shaken lightly to remove the ash at the bottom of the firebed', causing it to settle downwardly. A-hea vier bed of fire can be carried, if desired, by tilting upwardl the jet head so about the axis of the spherical 'ball59. This' will cause the jetgapertures to issue upwardly inclined jets ofpres sure'fiuid and give greater trajectory'to the "fuel. It will, of course, be understood that since that portion of the Ifuel immediatelybeneaththejet'head50 is not replenished, it will soon bur n away and become ash so that here-isno hot-flame impinging upon theforward portion 55 of the jet head 59. The enlarged rearward :portionfi of'the grate bearing bar -5 serves to retain a bed of ash beneath the front portion 55 of the jet head 50 since movement of the grate section [6 or dump grates will not disturb ash formation at this point.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent to those familiar with the art that a stoker constructed according to the present inlvention is readily appliedto, existing locomotives andinsure maintenanceof a low'firebed necessary for maximum boiler efficiency.

' I claim:

1. In a locomotive firebox, a hollow backwall ...provided-. with a firing opening therein and grates forming vthe bottomof said firebox disposed betlow zthellower marginal edge of said opening, a

stoker conveyor adapted to feed fuel through said firing opening into said firebox so as to form a mound of fuel on said grate at the rearward portion of-said firebox beneath said firing opening, means providing a passage through said hollow backwallubeneath said. firing' opening, a pressure fluid jet head-extending through said passage having a front :face disposedwithinthe rearward portion :ofnsaid firebox beneath said firing opening and above the level. of saidg-rates, said grates. constituting the: sole means for supporting. the fuel-dropping from said firing opening, the front faceot said jet head bein-gprovided with a, plurality :ofzljet apertures directed forwardly and laterally .across said firebox, and meanstfor supplying -fiuidunderpressure to said jet head for issuance fromsaid-jet aperturesior projecting fueli rom the-mound of fuel onsaid grate to all .parts ofi the -firebox,---the-vertical distance from the level of said-grates to said-jet apertures --being Jess .-than the vertical distance fromsaid jet apertures to-the--lower marginal edge-of said firing opening.

2. In a locomotive firebox, a hol-low backwall provided with a=firing-ope1ring thereinand; grates forming the bottom-of--said firebox ydisposed below the lower -ma-rgin-al edge -of said-opening, a stoker conveyor adapted to- #feed fuel" through said firingopening into saidfirebox so as tojform a mound -of fuel :on said grate at the "rearward portion of said' fire-boxbeneath said firing opening, means providing a passage through said hollowback-wallbeneath said firing' opening, a pressure fluid -jet-head-=extending-throughzsaid pas sage having a front face disposed within the rearward portion of said fireboxbeneath said firingopening and above thelevel of saidgrates, said grates constituting-the-sole means for supporting the-fuel dropping from saidfiring opening, the-front face of said jet'head being provided witha plurality ofjet apertures directed. forwardly and laterally across said 'firebox, means for supplying fluid 'underpressure to said jet head for issuance-from 'saidjet apertures for projectingfuel from the mound of fuel on said a to al x a t 1 heiflrcbo and. means for adjusting the position of said jet head vertically withrespect to said gratesgthe vertical distance from th levelrof sa dsr te t .jsa die t ap rtur providedwith afiringopening, therein and grates n h b t m-9.18amfirebox disposed: below the lower marginal edgeof said opening, a

stoker conveyor adapted 'to feed fuel through said-firing opening'into said-firebox so as. to form a mound of fuel on said grate at the rearward portion of said firebox beneath said' firing open-v ing, means providing a passage through said hollow backwall beneath said firing opening, a pressure fluid jet head extending through said passage having a front face disposed within the rearward portion of said firebox beneath said firing opening and above the level of said grates, said grates constituting the sole means for supporting the fuel dropping from said firing opening, the front face of said jet head being provided with a plurality of jet apertures directed forwardly and laterally across said firebox, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said jet head for issuance from said jet apertures for projecting fuel from the mound of fuel on said grate to all parts of the firebox and means for adjusting the position of said jet head in a lateral direction with respect to said firebox, the vertical distance from the level of said grates to said jet apertures being less than the vertical distance from said apertures to the lower marginal edge of said firing opening.

4. In a locomotive firebox, a hollow backwall provided with a firing opening therein and grates forming the bottom of said firebox disposed below the lower marginal end of said opening, a stoker conveyor adapted to feed fuel through said firing opening into said firebox so as to form a mound of fuel on said grate at the rearward portion of said firebox beneath said firing opening, a pressure fluid jet provided with a front face disposed within the rearward portion of said firebox beneath said firing opening and above the level of said grates, said grates constituting the sole means for supporting the fuel dropping from said firing opening, the front face of said jet head being provided with a plurality of jet apertures directed forwardly and laterally across said firebox, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said jet head for issuance from said jet apertures for projecting fuel from the mound of fuel on said grate to all parts of the firebox, the vertical distance from the level of said grates to said jet apertures being less than the vertical distance from said jet apertures to the lower marginal edge of said firing opening.

5. In a locomotive firebox, a hollow backwall provided with a firing opening therein and grates forming the bottom of said firebox disposed below the lower marginal end of said opening, a stoker conveyor adapted to feed fuel through said firing opening into said firebox so as to form a mound of fuel on said grate at the rearward portion of said firebox beneath said firing opening, a pressure fluid jet provided with a front face disposed within the rearward portion of said firebox beneath said firing opening and above the level of said grates, said grates constituting the sole means for supporting the fuel dropping from said firing opening, the front face of said jet head being provided with a plurality of jet apertures directed forwardly and laterally across said firebox, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said jet head for issuance from said jet apertures for projecting fuel from the mound of fuel formed on said grate to all parts of the firebox.

6. In a locomotive firebox, a hollow backwall provided with a firing opening therein and grates forming the bottom of said firebox disposed below the lower marginal edge of said opening, a stoker conveyor adapted to feed fuel through said firing opening into said firebox so as to form a mound of fuel on said grate at the rearward portion of said firebox beneath said firing opening, means providing a passage through said hollow backwall beneath said firing opening, a pressure fluid jet head extending through said passage having a front face disposed within the rearward portion of said firebox beneath said firing opening and above the level of said grates, said grates constituting the sole means for supporting the fuel dropping from said firing opening, the front face of said jet head being provided with a plurality of jet apertures directed forwardly and laterally across said firebox, and means for supplying fluid underpressure to said jet head for issuance from said jet apertures for projecting fuel from the mound of fuel formed 

